Author: Isaac Gendler

Thermal runway

Thermal runway

Thermal runway 04/10/16

 

Have you ever wondered if an increase in temperature could cause a further increase in temperature? This simple idea is the basis of a phenomena known as a thermal runway. In Chemical Engineering, a thermal runaway can happen if a reaction rate increases due to an increase in temperature, which causes a further increase in temperature and spins out of control. In Electrical Engineering, joule heating may diminish resistive elements which further increases current which further increases heating.

 

If one thinks about it, couldn’t this phenomena simply be modeled with differential equations?

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors           04/09/16

 

In Linear Algebra, Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues  are special sets of vectors and scalars respectively that  if one takes a Matrix A and multiplies it by some eigenvector xthen A*x=*x, with being the eigenvalue. To solve for the eigenvector, first set it up so the top right to bottom left diagonal values are subtracting an eigenvalue. Then take the determinant of the system and solve for zero. Those will be your eigenvalues. Then lug those eigenvectors in and solve for the equation to get your eigenvectors. I really have no fucking clue about how this works

Earth’s magnetic field

Earth’s magnetic field

Earth’s magnetic field        04/08/16

 

One of the main reasons why the Earth is capable of sustaining life is because of the ever present Magnetic field that it encases. The Earth’s magnetic field usually has an intensity of around 0.65 Gauss, which is enough to deflect charged particles from solar wind aimed at the planet. Also, the magnetic south pole is actually located near the Hudson bay in Canada (the poles are switched around in respect to our conceptual geographic location), so most compases do not point directly north. Every so often the Earth goes through a magnetic field reversal, in which the poles switch from one point to another. The magnetic field is thought to originate from moving iron magma in the outer core of the Earth. Some animals are thought to be able to detect the magnetic field of the earth through the use of biomagnetism, in which a piece of magnetite in the brain of the animal is able to respond to the magnetic field, acting as a sixth sense.

Mechanical belts

Mechanical belts

Mechanical belts             04/07/16

 

A belt is a loop of pliable material that can induce rotation on two mechanical objects. Belts are also used to transfer power and pull twists., and they are often the cheapest solution for such necessities. Belts are often used to connect two cylindrical mechanical objects in that are coplanar with one another. The power in a belt can be calculated by finding the difference in tension and multiplying it by the velocity, which can be symbolically represented as  P=(T1–T2)*v. Belts are important because they can turn objects that are not coaxial.

Spontaneous combustion

Spontaneous combustion

  Spontaneous combustion    04/06/16

 

Spontaneous combustion is when an object catches fire through the effect of self-heating. First, objects with low ignition temperatures begin to release heat. If such heat is unable to escape, then the heat re-enters the system. The combustion temperature will rise, and eventually if ignition point is reached and an oxidizer is present, then spontaneous combustion will occur. Hay is an example of an object that reaches combustion quickly.   

Matrices

Matrices

Matrices          04/05/16

Matrixes are one of the most important facest of mathematics, especially in relationship to linear algebra. A matrix is a rectangular array of number, with m rows and n columns. One can think of matrices as vectors with 2 dimensions of organization. Two matrixes can be added and subtracted from one another given that they are the same size, and they can be multiplied together if they have the number of columns of Ais equal to the number of rows of b

 

Matrix addition is very simple, one just adds up all of the of the common elements together. For example, if the Matrixes aand b have elements in [2,3], then they will be added up and placed in [2,3] in the final matrix c. A matrix can also be multiplied by a constant number c, such that c*Awill multiply all of the elements contained in Aby c.Matrixes can also be multiplied by each other, in which each column of matrix awill be cross produced to each row of matrix bto make a new matrix of c, which is as large as the common elements of both matrixes. A matrix can also be flipped to such that a matrix of m x nwill become one of n x m, and can be represented by the modificationAT

Sunspots

Sunspots

Sunspots           04/04/16

 

Sunspots are a most peculiar phenomena occurring in the solar system. Sunspots are regions of the sun that are darker and (relatively) cooler than the surrounding photosphere. Sunspots are a temporary phenomenon, usually with a lifespan lasting from several hours to several months. Sunspots can be carried around by the internal rotation of a stellar object. Consequently, the amount of sunspots on a sun have a sinusoidal variability (meaning that the amount of sunspots on the spot goes up and down with time) and this causes the sun to be slightly cooler during times of high sunspot activity. Sunspots also have a high magnetic activity, which in turn can be correlated with events such as coronal mass ejections.

Cross fertilization

Cross fertilization

Cross fertilization      04/03/16

 

Cross fertilization is one of the most important processes in life, since it deals with the reproduction of it. Cross fertilization begins with the fusion of male and female gametes (sex cells) from at least two distinct individuals of the same species. By combining genes, a greater motley of genetic diversity increases within a population and a species becomes stronger and more resilient to population catastrophies.

Convection zone

Convection zone

Convection zone         04/02/16

 

The Convection zone is a layer of a stellar object that is unstable to convection. In this area of a star, all of the energy of this layer is driven completely by convection. This layer is “cool” enough to have heavier ions such as Calcium, nitrogen, carbon, and nitrogen. The convection zone is an important part for any star.